Posts Tagged ‘watering’ < back
24th Apr:
It seems strange that in the middle of this incessant rain I am sat here writing a blog about what we can and can’t do with hoses over the next few months! On April 4th having taken a huge gamble, we finished laying 480m² of turf in one garden. Since then I don’t think it has stopped raining which is great for that lawn and the reservoirs but frustrating for all our other jobs.
I have been asked many times over the last couple of weeks what the general public are allowed to do in the garden so hopefully below are a few helpful guidelines.
- No hoses are allowed to water lawns or plants. However you can fill watering cans and water any lawns or plants. It will just take a lot longer.
- No cleaning of any walls, or windows, patios, paths, garden furniture or any other outdoor artificial surface using a hose.
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe (unless it has fish and their welfare is at stake – lucky fish!).
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining an ornamental fountain.
- However you are allowed to use a hosepipe for cleaning purposes if health and safety is going to be an issue.
Ways to make the most of the situation.
- Plant any new trees, shrubs and plants in well-rotted, water-retaining compost and cover with a heavy layer of mulch (up to 4 inches) to retain moisture.
- While you are at it cover the rest of the beds in a thick layer of mulch.
- Deliver water directly to the base of plants through tree-root watering pipes or trickle/drip irrigation equipment.
- Install a trickle/drip irrigation system.
- Wherever possible, use timer devices to water early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation is minimal.
- Don’t worry about lawns turning brown. This shows the grass has stopped growing, but most lawns will recover completely when the rain returns
- Install water butts to collect rainwater off greenhouse, shed, garage and house roofs
If anyone is unsure about anything or has any questions please feel free to give us a call and we will try to help in any way we can (legally!!).
Automatic Irrigation Systems
26th May:
An automatic irrigation system allows irrigation at night when evaporation loss is at its lowest and pressure highest, this allows control over the amount of water used and reduces wastage and help with water conservation.
It ensures your garden gets the right amount of water whether you are home or away, you never need worry about getting someone to pop in and water or worry about what will have died in your absence. It’s quite possible that the cost of the irrigation system will cover its costs by the fact that you won’t need to buy any new plants which die due to lack of water!
A rain sensor can be attached to your irrigation system allowing automatic shutdown during wet weather, once the rain has stopped the system automatically reactivates.
The system can be set to work automatically and most work on a small diameter pipe with various outlets as required. These can include lawn sprinklers, feeds to hanging baskets and pot plants and systems for vegetable patches, beds and borders.
August/September Gardening Tips
19th Aug:
August is starting to draw to a close and now is the time to start thinking about what you will need to do over the coming months to prepare you garden for next year. But enough of the depressing talk, summer is not over yet and hopefully we will still have a couple of months of good weather with which to enjoy our gardens. Below are a few tips and tasks that should be carried out over the next few weeks to enhance your enjoyment and prolong the flowering period.
1. Watering is still very important at the moment especially if we get some more warm, dry periods. Make sure you water during the coolest times of the day and water thoroughly and deeply.
2. Perennials, Annuals and other flowering plants. Spend as much time as you can deadheading as this should mean they will continue to flower longer into the summer season. Any spring flowering perennials can be divided and moved now as well but you must sure you water them well after.
3. Any summer flowering shrubs that have finished flowering can now be pruned and shaped.
4. Keep watering the lawn well and start to think about raising the height of the cut towards the end of september. Also if we do have another hot spell don’t cut the grass so short as longer grass offers more shade to the roots and so won’t dry out so fast.
5. Keep on top of the weeds and try to remove them early before they can go to seed again. Weeds will deprive you plants of nutrients and water.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and if we can be of any help don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.
